Ruth Marcus: Campaign cash case quickly turns one cold

4:29 PM,
Oct. 8, 2013

Written by

Ruth Marcus

Shaun McCutcheon, an electrical engineer and self-described "conservative with a pretty good libertarian streak," remembers the first time he was shown a "massively confusing chart" about federal limits on political contributions.

No more than $48,600 to candidates for federal office per two-year election cycle. No more than $74,600 to political parties and political action committees. Maximum $123,200 total.

The Alabama Republican didn't understand why he couldn't write as many checks as he wanted, and he asked a Republican lawyer friend. "He said, 'Oh, you can challenge those. ...